The Muslim scholar who was found guilty back in 2019 of raping an underage boy has been found not guilty on another count of rape. A jury found Neezam Ali not guilty of raping another underage youth.
The case was presided over by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Ali had repeatedly denied that between December 2 and 31, 2011, in the county of Demerara, while being in a position of trust, engaged in sexual activity with the victim.
Ali was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh back in 2019 after a jury found him guilty of raping a nine-year-old boy in 2011. Ali was hauled before the courts again on a similar charge just days ago.
On that charge, it is alleged that between December 2 and 31, 2011, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with a six-year-old boy, while being an educator at the Muslim Association Masjid, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. He denied the allegation.
Attorneys Simran Gajraj, Latifah Elliot, and Rabina Christmas, who are prosecuting the case, also presented another count against Ali for the offence of rape of an underaged child. That charge stated that he engaged in sexual penetration with the youth between the dates mentioned in the charge.
At his last sentencing he denied committing the crime, claiming that he suffered from erectile dysfunction. Justice Navindra Singh in his ruling considered the fact that he took advantage of an underprivileged youth and that the sexual abuse occurred within the walls of a place of religion.
Ali later appealed his case, on the grounds that Justice Singh misdirected the jury with regard to the medical evidence. Ali however is still expected to face trial for six more counts of child rape.
